When the Rangers gathered for day one of training camp on Friday, it was the first time since the death of teammate Derek Boogaard that the entire club was together in one room. As Ryan Callahan put it, there was a "big hole" in the locker room without him there. While the players have no choice but to move on from Derek's tragic death, they will also keep the "giant teddy bear" in their thoughts and in their hearts forever.
To reassure this, the Rangers have announced that they will be wearing a memorial sticker/patch on their helmets during this season in tribute to Boogaard, reported Newsday. Boogaard only played in 22 games with the Blueshirts last season, as he was sidelined for a while due to injuries followed by personal problems, but he still had an impact on the lives on many of the players on this team. He was just that type of guy that everyone in the locker room loved to have around, which is why the first day back certainly brought some sorrow...
Original Story:
